April, '11] NATIONAL INSPECTION LAW 279 



as showing, through the reports obtained by Mr. Harrison, the actual 

 attitude of the great body of nurserymen, other than importers, 

 throughout the country. 



Attitude of the Nurseryman as Shown by the Records 



Numerous conferences, beginning in 1897, and ending in 1908, failed 

 to secure any agreement with the nurserymen as to a national law, 

 covering either (1) the inspection of home-grown nursery stock which 

 becomes the subject of interstate commerce, or (2) the inspection 

 of nursery stock imported from foreign countries. 



The final report of the nurserymen is to the effect that the Nursery- 

 men's Association refused to entertain any further consideration 

 of a national inspection law, or to endorse any efforts toward securing 

 one. (Journal of Economic En >.omology, August, 1908, Vol. 1, pages 

 270-273). The association did,) however, indorse thorough inspec- 

 tion of imported nursery stock ,at final destination of latter. This 

 report is signed by Orlando Harrison, a prominent Maryland nursery- 

 man, as chairman of the committee on national inspection law. 



Mr. Harrison reports, however {l. c, p. 271), sending out 460 

 letters in May, 1908, chiefly to nurserymen throughout the country, 

 inquiring their wishes as to the enactment of a national law govern- 

 ing the inspection of both imported and home-grown stock. Two 

 hundred and twenty-five replies were received, of which from nursery- 

 men, one hundred and seventy were in favor of a national law, twelve 

 against, and five neutral. Of the entomologists and inspectors of 

 different states, out of thirty-three repHes, only two opposed. This 

 is interesting as showing the general attitude of nurserymen of this 

 country. The objecting nurserymen, however, seemed to be the 

 influential members, and were able to shelve any possible recommenda- 

 tions looking toward legislation. Furthermore, the resolution at 

 the convention of nurserymen that year (June 10-13, 1908), indorsing 

 the passage of a law by Congress providing for government inspec- 

 tion of all imported nursery stock, was shelved by reference to Mr. 

 Pitkin of New York, chairman of the committee on national legis- 

 lation, who made no further report on it. It may be noted that 

 Mr. Pitkin and his conferees in New York are leading importers, 

 and have persistently opposed such legislation as will be indicated 

 later. This was the end of the attempt to secure legislation which 

 had been under way since 1897. 



The further attitude of the legislative committee, under the chair- 

 manship of ]Mr. Pitkin of New York, is shown by the following records: 

 With the renewed effort to obtain legislation in 1909, caused by the 



